Making Call on the Buccaneers' Hardest Remaining Cuts

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have nearly reached the time of year dreaded by players all around the league: preseason roster reductions.

The hardest part of these preseason cuts is letting go of the players who are clearly talented but for whatever reason just couldn't rise to the occasion. Whether it's injury or an overabundance of depth at a certain position, there are many factors outside of just talent that can put a player out on the street.

The Buccaneers have both problems. Players like Da'Quan Bowers cannot prove themselves to the new coaching staff standing on the sidelines in a hat and slippers. But the Bucs also have the enviable problem of having a deluge of talent at the wide receiver and running back positions. Hard decisions will have to be made before the start of the regular season.

Of all of the potential cuts the Bucs will have to make in the coming weeks, the following five players will be the hardest to release.

Some have shown something special or possess rare talent but may be victims of the numbers game. Others are on the verge of ending their Buccaneer careers on the sidelines. The outlooks vary based on individual circumstances.

Here are the five hardest cuts the Bucs front office might be forced to make over the next two weeks and the likelihood that they will remain in Tampa.

Meredith is still listed as a guard on the team's depth chart, but he may find himself the odd man out with the glut of guards the Bucs are trying out.

The Bucs traded safety Kelcie McCray to the Kansas City Chiefs for backup guard Rishaw Johnson, per the Tampa Tribune's Cummings. While there is no guarantee that Johnson will even be on the roster at the end of the preseason, the move doesn't bode well for Meredith's future in Tampa.

Tommy Streeter

After two years of setbacks and frustration, wide receiver Tommy Streeter might finally be ready to make an impact on an NFL roster.

Streeter was drafted by the Ravens in 2012, but he never played a snap for Baltimore during the regular season. He spent last year out of football and is looking to get his career back on track.

So far Streeter has given the Bucs every reason to keep him on the roster. He is simply amazing this preseason, making incredible catches during training camp and scoring the team's first points of the preseason:

The Bucs have a glut of wide receivers vying for just one or two roster spots. Streeter may have the best chance of all the receivers on the bubble to make the roster.

While other Bucs receivers like Robert Herron and Solomon Patton are fast and quick, Streeter boasts a 6'5", 215-pound frame that matches the likes of Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans.

As good as Streeter has been this preseason, he may lose out thanks to the numbers game, especially as a guy like Solomon Patton proves his worth on special teams, per the Tampa Bay Times' Rick Stroud.

There isn't much more that Tommy Streeter can do to prove he belongs on the roster. All he can do is hope the Bucs recognize his value and keep him on.

Danny Gorrer

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

The preseason has not been kind to the Bucs' cornerback depth, but it may give Danny Gorrer the opportunity he needs to make this roster.

The Bucs have been without free-agent acquisition Alterraun Verner throughout much of the preseason. He has only recently been deemed ready to return and possibly play in the upcoming preseason matchup with the Buffalo Bills, per Jenna Laine of Sports Talk Florida.

Fellow corners Rashaan Melvin and Mike Jenkins have also missed significant time due to injuries:

Gorrer can't count on the cornerback depth to be depleted forever. If the Bucs have Verner, Jenkins and Melvin along with Johnthan Banks and Leonard Johnson, they may not be able to carry Gorrer as a sixth corner.

The worst thing Gorrer can do at this point is end up joining the crowd of injured players on the sideline for an extended period of time. Gorrer already missed one day due to injury, per The Ledgers' Rick Brown:

CB Danny Gorrer was on the sidelines today, along with the usual suspects. #Bucsinjuries